Reds star Votto opens exhibition season with 2 hits

Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana points to the sky as he arrives at home plate after hitting a home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the second inning of a spring baseball game Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Ross D. Franklin

March 01, 2016

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) Joey Votto had two hits and reached three times in the Cincinnati Reds' 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday in the spring training opener for both Ohio teams.

Scott Schebler homered in his first at-bat with the Reds, who got him from the Dodgers as part of a three-team deal that sent third baseman Todd Frazier to the White Sox. He also made a terrific catch against Robbie Grossman with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning.

Schebler is part of a crowded competition for the starting job in left field. Jake Cave (two hits) and Adam Duvall (1 for 2), two more candidates, also had a nice day.

''It was great,'' Reds manager Bryan Price said. ''Duvall was terrific, moving the runner with a base hit to right field and advancing to second on a good read of a ball in the dirt. Schebler had the home run and grinded out a walk on a really good at-bat, then made a game-saving catch with bases loaded with two outs in the eighth.

''It was really good to see the way the guys went about it.''

Eugenio Suarez had a pair of doubles and drove in two runs. Suarez is moving from shortstop to third base, replacing Frazier.

Cleveland's Carlos Santana homered off Jon Moscot in his first spring at-bat. Minor leaguer Eric Stamets also homered off Zack Weiss, who is competing for a spot in the Reds' bullpen.

''We did some good things, we did some not so good things,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said. ''Gio (Giovanny Urshella) got picked off at first. We can't do that. I don't care when it is in the year, we can't do that. Grossman got a little overexcited. It cost us some chances to score, but we swung the bats OK.''

STARTING TIME

Reds: RHP Jon Moscot went 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in three starts with Cincinnati last season. He dislocated his left shoulder on a rundown play in June.

Moscot allowed a run and two hits in two innings.

''For not facing a hitter for nine months, I felt good,'' Moscot said. ''The ball was coming out of my hand good, good life. I made a mistake to Santana. I have to get the feel for my off-speed pitch. I hung a changeup.''

Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin gave up a run and three hits in one inning. Rebounding from an injury in spring training last year, Tomlin is competing with T.J. House and Cody Anderson for the fifth spot in the rotation.

''Every time I step on a baseball field, I get nervous,'' Tomlin said. ''It's like a good anxious feeling. It's a tough race. There's no doubt about it they are tough pitchers. Our job is to come together and do the best we can to get ready for the season.''

TRAINERS ROOM

Reds: OF Billy Hamilton (shoulder), SS Zack Cozart (knee) and C Devin Mesoraco (hip) are working at the Reds' complex. Hamilton is expected to play Wednesday. Cozart and Mesoraco are expected to play in games at the end of the week.

Indians: OF Michael Brantley (shoulder) is four months into a six-month rehab. He has hit off a tee and hit in front toss drills. ... OF Michael Choice is day to day with a tight left hamstring.